So Great a Salvation

“The natural creation is to be born again through the resurrection of Christ.
Yet Christ saves more than just man.
He saves the entirety of creation that fell into unreality at the fall of man."
Ref. Romans 8:19-21
H.A. Baker: Visions Beyond the Veil , (p. 83)

“For if the message spoken by angels was binding,
and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment,
how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?
This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord,
was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles,
and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
Hebrews 2:2-4 NIV

So Great A Salvation:

The Greek word “sozo” {sode'-zo} is used in the New Testament about 110 times. It is a verb that means to be rescued or saved from the powers of the evil one, and to be restored into the wholeness of God’s order and blessing. It is often used to express the idea of being saved from eternal judgment for sin. For far too many Christians, if not most, that is their full understanding of what it means to be saved.

The term “sozo” however, has a much richer meaning than simply salvation – although I don’t think there is anything simple about so great a salvation as we have received through the blood of Christ Jesus!

“Sozo” also has the connotation of being healed from affliction or disease. It additionally is used frequently to describe one’s deliverance from demonic oppression. Indeed, the term “sozo” can apply to all three of these conditions at the same time. It is used also as the verb when someone is raised from the dead!

To be “sozo” (saved) means to be unconditionally saved, delivered, and healed.
Let’s take a look at a few examples of the word as it is utilized in the Scriptures so that we can more completely comprehend the dynamics of this word “sozo.”

When the Apostle Peter was preaching to the rulers and elders of Jerusalem, this is what he said:
"And there is salvation in no one else;
for there is no other name under heaven
that has been given among men by which we must be [sozo] saved."
Acts 4:12 NASB
Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus this observation:

“For by grace you have been saved[sozo] through faith;
and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;”
Ephesians 2:8 NASB
Paul wrote to the church at Rome saying:

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord,
and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved [sozo];”
Romans 10:9 NASB

From these and other Scriptures we see clearly that “sozo” means one’s salvation from sin. Salvation here refers to the process or result of being ‘converted’ or ‘saved’. This process includes:
- one’s belief that Jesus is the Son of God
- one believing that Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for sin that we deserve, and thus saving us from our sinful condition.
- our repentance from our sin and rebellion
- our confession that Jesus is the Lord of our life.

When Jesus and the disciples sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee, they came upon a man controlled by many demons. So many demons possessed this man he was know as Legion (the Roman term for a regiment which equaled 3000 – 6000 soldiers). This man was obviously tormented by many demons, even if we take this reference figuratively). Note what is says in the 36th verse of Luke chapter eight:

“Those who had seen it reported to them
how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well [sozo].
Luke 8:36 NASB

In Jude’s Epistle he warns the early church against false teachers and makes this statement:
“Though you already know all this,
I want to remind you that the Lord delivered [sozo} his people out of Egypt,
but later destroyed those who did not believe.
Jude 1:5 NIV

In Paul’s second letter to Timothy we read:

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed,
and will bring me safely [sozo] to His heavenly kingdom;
to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”
2 Timothy 4:18 NASB

So in each of these instances we see that the word sozo has the nuance of
“being delivered”, either from demonic oppression or from one’s circumstances. In addition to our classical understanding of salvation sozo means that we are:
- saved from our sin and rebelliousness
- delivered from oppression and demonic activity

In the Gospel of Mark we read of the Lord:

“Wherever He entered villages, or cities, or countryside,
they were laying the sick in the market places,
and imploring Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak;
and as many as touched it were being cured.[sozo}”
Mark 6:56 NASB

A woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak…

“But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ‘Daughter, take courage;
your faith has made you well.[sozo]’
At once the woman was made well.[sozo]”
Matthew 9:22 NASB

When a blind man came to Jesus and pleaded for his sight…

“And Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well [sozo].’
Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.”
Mark 10:52 NASB

So our understanding of salvation (sozo) means that we are:
- saved from our sin and rebelliousness
- delivered from oppression and demonic activity
- healed by the blood of Jesus from disease

Indeed it is possible to receive all three aspects of salvation at the same time.
Repentance (sozo) often comes when unbelievers (or believers) receive a miraculous healing, and such brings deliverance from evil habits or demonic influences in that persons life.

In at least once instance that I’ve found sozo is used in describing the raising of the dead.

Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed [sozo] you.
Go in peace.’
While Jesus was still speaking,
someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler.
‘Your daughter is dead,’ he said. ‘Don't bother the teacher any more.’
Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus,
‘Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.[sozo]’"
Luke 8:48-50 NIV

Jesus said that
"Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
John 20:21 NASB

Just as Jesus ministered sozo (salvation, healing and deliverance); we have been commissioned to do the same. Indeed our Lord proclaimed that His church would do the same and greater works than he did, and the Word proclaims that signs, wonders and miracles would follow after our belief in Him.

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do,
he will do also;
and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.
John 14:12 NASB

“how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?
After it was at the first spoken through the Lord,
it was confirmed to us by those who heard,
God also testifying with them,
both by signs and wonders and by various miracles
and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."
Hebrews 2:3-5 NASB

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